Changes

After the completion and success of the Creation Museum, Ham and AiG started focusing on building the [[Ark Encounter]], a life-sized replica of Noah's Ark.<ref name="History"/> The plans for constructing the Ark Encounter were announced by AiG, along with Kentucky Governor [[Steve Beshear]] on December 1, 2010.<ref name="History"/>

After the completion and success of the Creation Museum, Ham and AiG started focusing on building the [[Ark Encounter]], a life-sized replica of Noah's Ark.<ref name="History"/> The plans for constructing the Ark Encounter were announced by AiG, along with Kentucky Governor [[Steve Beshear]] on December 1, 2010.<ref name="History"/>

During the construction of the Ark Encounter, AiG sued the state of [[Kentucky]] after officials blocked AiG from receiving a sales tax tourism incentive worth up to $18 million because AiG would use the Ark Encounter to share the gospel. On January 25, 2016, Federal Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled in AiG's favor, ruling that blocking the incentives from AiG was unconstitutional and violated their [[First Amendment]] protections.<ref>Lovan, Dylan (January 25, 2016). [http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/grant-county/ark-encounter-builder-wins-legal-battle-over-tax-incentives Ark Encounter builder wins legal battle over tax incentive]. ''WCPO.com'' Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref><ref>Caproni, Erin (January 26, 2016). [http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2016/01/judge-rules-on-ark-encounter-incentives.html Judge rules on Ark Encounter incentives]. ''Cincinatti Business Courier''. Retrieved August 5 2016.</ref><ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/religious-freedom/victory-ark-encounter-federal-court/ Victory for AiG/Ark Encounter in Federal Court]. ''Answers in Genesis''. January 25, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

During the construction of the Ark Encounter, AiG sued the state of [[Kentucky]] after officials blocked AiG from receiving a sales tax tourism incentive worth up to $18 million because AiG would use the Ark Encounter to share the gospel. On January 25, 2016, Federal Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled in AiG's favor, ruling that blocking the incentives from AiG was unconstitutional and violated their [[First Amendment]] protections.<ref>Lovan, Dylan (January 25, 2016). [http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/grant-county/ark-encounter-builder-wins-legal-battle-over-tax-incentives Ark Encounter builder wins legal battle over tax incentive]. ''WCPO.com'' Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref><ref>Caproni, Erin (January 26, 2016). [http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2016/01/judge-rules-on-ark-encounter-incentives.html Judge rules on Ark Encounter incentives]. ''Cincinatti Business Courier''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref><ref>[https://answersingenesis.org/religious-freedom/victory-ark-encounter-federal-court/ Victory for AiG/Ark Encounter in Federal Court]. ''Answers in Genesis''. January 25, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

On July 7, 2016, the Ark Encounter was opened to the public in Williamstown, [[Kentucky]].<ref>Ham, Ken. [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/07/07/ark-encounter-opens-to-the-public/ Ark Encounter Opens to the Public!] ''Answers in Genesis''. July 7, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> The ark cost $100 million and is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, based on the dimensions given in the Bible.<ref>Weed, Alexis (July 8, 2016). [http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/07/us/noahs-ark-kentucky/ Noah's Ark Opens at Kentucky Theme Park]. ''CNN''. Retreived August 5, 2016.</ref> The opening date, 7/7, was intentionally chosen to coincide with Genesis 7:7. The next day, Bill Nye visited the Ark Encounter upon invitation from Ham.<ref>Ham, Ken. [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/07/08/bill-nye-visits-ark-encounter/ Bill Nye Visits the Ark Encounter]. ''Answers in Genesis''. July 8, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

On July 7, 2016, the Ark Encounter was opened to the public in Williamstown, [[Kentucky]].<ref>Ham, Ken. [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/07/07/ark-encounter-opens-to-the-public/ Ark Encounter Opens to the Public!] ''Answers in Genesis''. July 7, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> The ark cost $100 million and is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, based on the dimensions given in the Bible.<ref>Weed, Alexis (July 8, 2016). [http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/07/us/noahs-ark-kentucky/ Noah's Ark Opens at Kentucky Theme Park]. ''CNN''. Retreived August 5, 2016.</ref> The opening date, 7/7, was intentionally chosen to coincide with Genesis 7:7. The next day, Bill Nye visited the Ark Encounter upon invitation from Ham.<ref>Ham, Ken. [https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2016/07/08/bill-nye-visits-ark-encounter/ Bill Nye Visits the Ark Encounter]. ''Answers in Genesis''. July 8, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

As a Christian organization, AiG believes that salvation is obtained through faith in [[Christ]] alone, regardless of whether one believes in Creation or Evolution.<ref>Gish, Duane (Spetember 1, 1989). [https://answersingenesis.org/theistic-evolution/is-it-possible-to-be-a-christian-and-an-evolutionist/ Is it Possible to be a Christian and an Evolutionist?] ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> Despite this, AiG does believe that having a literal view of Genesis is important in understanding the [[Gospel]] and in having a high view of God and the Bible, among other reasons.<ref>Mortenson, Terry (February 29, 2008). [https://answersingenesis.org/why-does-creation-matter/are-we-wasting-our-time/ Are We Wasting Our Time?] ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

As a Christian organization, AiG believes that salvation is obtained through faith in [[Christ]] alone, regardless of whether one believes in Creation or Evolution.<ref>Gish, Duane (Spetember 1, 1989). [https://answersingenesis.org/theistic-evolution/is-it-possible-to-be-a-christian-and-an-evolutionist/ Is it Possible to be a Christian and an Evolutionist?] ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> Despite this, AiG does believe that having a literal view of Genesis is important in understanding the [[Gospel]] and in having a high view of God and the Bible, among other reasons.<ref>Mortenson, Terry (February 29, 2008). [https://answersingenesis.org/why-does-creation-matter/are-we-wasting-our-time/ Are We Wasting Our Time?] ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

AiG does not support mandating the teaching of creationism in public schools because "it would likely be taught poorly (and possibly mockingly) by a teacher who does not understand what the Bible teaches and who believes in evolution."<ref>Ham, Ken & Patterson, Roger (September 17, 2013). [https://answersingenesis.org/creationism/in-schools/should-christians-be-pushing-to-have-creation-taught-in-government-schools/ Chapter 3 - Should Christians Be Pushing to Have Creation Taught in Government Schools?] ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> AiG does believe that both teachers and students "should have academic freedom to critically examine scientific facts and the worldviews by which they are interpreted."<ref>Mitchell, Elizabeth (December 3, 2011). [https://answersingenesis.org/creationism/in-schools/reexamining-teaching-creationism-in-schools/ Reexamining Teaching Creationism in Schools]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5 2016.</ref>

AiG does not support mandating the teaching of creationism in public schools because "it would likely be taught poorly (and possibly mockingly) by a teacher who does not understand what the Bible teaches and who believes in evolution."<ref>Ham, Ken & Patterson, Roger (September 17, 2013). [https://answersingenesis.org/creationism/in-schools/should-christians-be-pushing-to-have-creation-taught-in-government-schools/ Chapter 3 - Should Christians Be Pushing to Have Creation Taught in Government Schools?] ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref> AiG does believe that both teachers and students "should have academic freedom to critically examine scientific facts and the worldviews by which they are interpreted."<ref>Mitchell, Elizabeth (December 3, 2011). [https://answersingenesis.org/creationism/in-schools/reexamining-teaching-creationism-in-schools/ Reexamining Teaching Creationism in Schools]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved August 5, 2016.</ref>

AiG does not support the [[intelligent design]] movement because although it affirms a creator of the universe, it does not challenge the theory of evolution and long ages and, more importantly, it does not specify who exactly the creator was and separates [[general revelation]] and [[special revelation]] from each other.<ref>Purdom, Georgia, Dr. (May 6, 2010). [https://answersingenesis.org/intelligent-design/is-the-intelligent-design-movement-christian/ Chapter 13 - Is the Intelligent Design Movement Christian?]. ''Answers in Genesis'' (from ''The New Answers Book 2''). Retrieved October 25, 2016.</ref>

AiG does not support the [[intelligent design]] movement because although it affirms a creator of the universe, it does not challenge the theory of evolution and long ages and, more importantly, it does not specify who exactly the creator was and separates [[general revelation]] and [[special revelation]] from each other.<ref>Purdom, Georgia, Dr. (May 6, 2010). [https://answersingenesis.org/intelligent-design/is-the-intelligent-design-movement-christian/ Chapter 13 - Is the Intelligent Design Movement Christian?]. ''Answers in Genesis'' (from ''The New Answers Book 2''). Retrieved October 25, 2016.</ref>